It was evident that Faversham had pushed
the acquaintance with the Penfolds as far as he could; that he was
Lydia's familiar correspondent, and constantly appealing for help to her
knowledge of the country folk. An excellent road to intimacy, as Tatham
uneasily admitted, considering Lydia's love for the people of the dales,
and her passionate sympathy with the victims of Melrose's ill-deeds.
Ah! but the very causes which had been throwing her into an intimacy with
Faversham must surely now be chilling and drawing her back? Tatham, the
young reformer, felt an honest indignation with the failure of Claude
Faversham to do the obvious and necessary work he had promised to do.
Tatham, the lover, knew very well that if he had come back to find
Faversham the hero of the piece, with a grateful countryside at his feet,
his own jealous anxiety would have been even greater than it was. For it
was great, argue with himself as he might. A dread for which he could not
account often overshadowed him. It was caused perhaps by his constant
memory of Faversham and Lydia on the terrace at Threlfall--of the two
faces turned to each other--of the sudden fusion as it were of the two
personalities in a common rush of memories, interests, and sympathies, in
which he himself had no part....
He put up his letter on the stroke of midnight, and then walked his room
a while longer, struggling with himself and the passion of his desire;
praying that he might win her.
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